title: [Nematode and trematode fauna of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus LINK, 1795) in Lower Saxony].
abstract: From January 1995 to December 1995, 991 muskrats were examined for the occurrence and the regional prevalence of nematodes and trematodes. The muskrats were trapped in all parts of Lower Saxony. 77.2% of the studied population were less than one year old, 22.8% were older. The male to female ratio was 54.5% to 45.5%. One genus of nematodes, Trichuris spp., was found in the colon in 1.9% of the animals in the south of the investigated area. A species differentiation was not possible, as exclusively female parasites had been found. Additionally, two genera of trematodes (Echinostoma spp. and Quinqueserialis quinqueserialis) belonging to two different families were detected in 2.5% of the muskrats. In the north of the investigated area the prevalence was significantly higher than in the south. As to the echinostomatides, no species-differentiation was made because, according to KANEV (1985), many echinostomatides have not been described correctly in the past. Some echinostomatides cannot be differentiated until today. There was no statistically significant correlation between parasite infections and sex of the animals. Concerning Echinostoma spp. and Quinqueserialis quinqueserialis, a highly significant correlation was found between the age of the muskrats and the trematode-infections. Young animals were infected more often than older animals, none of the younger animals was infected with Trichuris spp.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Parasitologie und dem Institut für Wildtierforschung, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seegers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baumeister
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuschfeldt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pohlmeyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009348:Nematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D014200:Trematoda / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*
vernacular_title: Ein Beitrag zur Nematoden- und Trematodenfauna des Bisams (Ondatra zibethicus LINK, 1795) in Niedersachsen.